The stuffed elephant is a symbol of Teddy’s true identity as Dominic and the lasting, tangible link to his birth mother, Veronica. Although the elephant is merely a gift in Naomi’s narrative, for Veronica, the toy is a deep maternal gesture, an object imbued with years of grief, hope, and longing. When she gives it to Teddy, she tells him, “It belonged to somebody really, really special to me. And now I want you to have it” (295). In this moment, she symbolically transfers her unresolved maternal connection to the son she lost. The elephant becomes the physical manifestation of his stolen past.

The Roth family’s secret code phrase, “Go in the bedroom and watch monkey videos” (37), is a recurring motif that represents the perversion of familial trust and the manipulation of parental authority. Initially established as a tool for protection, its function is corrupted by Jeremy. He uses the code to facilitate Teddy’s deception, not shield him from danger, sending his son away so that he can demand a divorce. Naomi explains its solemn purpose, noting that it means Teddy must “disappear into his bedroom without question” (37). This conditioning, meant to ensure Teddy’s safety in an emergency, instead guarantees his absence during moments of intense domestic conflict and betrayal.

The motif connects to the theme of The Dangers of Possessive Parenting, as a tool of parental care is weaponized to maintain control and conceal wrongdoing. Later, Naomi herself uses the code to isolate Teddy after she attacks Veronica, demonstrating how she has adopted Jeremy’s manipulative tactics. However, the code phrase is fully subverted when Teddy won’t leave his room for Veronica without it, even as the house is burning around them. The phrase’s journey from a sacred trust to a convenient tool for concealment charts the family’s moral decay, showing how the intimate language of protection can be twisted into an instrument of harm.